Could Manchin Replace Perry at DOE?

Bloomberg reports today on rumors that Joe Manchin, Democrat Senator from West Virginia, is on the short list to replace former Texas Governor and current Energy Secretary Rick Perry at the DOE. More shuffling in the Trump administration deck of cards. Perry, it has already been rumored, could himself be a short-lister to replace Kelly at Homeland Security, who was moved to the White House as Chief of Staff, replacing Reince Priebus.

If Manchin were offered and accepted the position, that would allow West Virginia’s Governor Jim Justice — a newly minted Republican — to appoint a GOP successor and bring the party a vote closer in the Senate to being able to repeal Obamacare. The idea is in the early stages of consideration, and it’s unclear whether it has support within the administration, according to the people, who described the conversations under condition of anonymity.

A spokesman for Manchin declined to say whether the senator would take the Energy secretary job — currently held by former Texas Governor Rick Perry — if offered.

There’s the rub. It’d be really hard for Manchin to allow WV to replace a D with an R in the Senate. And by hard we mean … well think horse head in the bed. Hard.

It would of course mean a shift in the Senate that would change the landscape entirely, including making it much easier to repeal and replace.

West Virginia is Trump territory. He won every county in the state, a whopping 68.5% of the vote, and the turnout was over 50%. The Governor just switched parties and joined the GOP.

Guess we’ll see. Crazier things have happened. Especially in the last two years.

Here’s the most recent thing Senator Manchin has tweeted.

Pleased to see @realDonaldTrump@POTUS declare a state of emergency for opioids. This epidemic is devastating #WV & this is a positive step.

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